Reaction vessel



Dec. 15, 1959 w. K. ROQUEMORE 2,917,373

REACTION VESSEL Filed on. 51, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 DISPERSE PHASE i /DENSE PHASE 28 STEAM STEAM FIG. I.

INVENTOR. WILLIAM K. ROOUEMORE,

Dec. 15, 1959 w. K. ROQUEMORE 2,917,373

REACTION VESSEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 31, 1957 FIG. 4.

United States Patent REACTION VESSEL William K. Roquemore, Baytown, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Essa Research and Engineering Company, Elizabeth, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Application October 31, 1957, Serial No. 693,755

(Ilaims. (Cl. 23-288) The present invention is directed to a reactor suitable for use in catalytic conversion operations. More particularly, the invention is directed to an improved reactor provided with removably arranged baffle members in an annular stripping section. In its more specific aspects the invention is concerned with a baflle section which is suitable for use in an annular stripper of a fluidized solids reaction vessel. I

The present invention may be briefly described as a reactor suitable for use in catalytic conversion operations in which fluidized solids are employed. The reactor comprises an elongated vertical vessel having internal insulation on its inner wall. An inlet for fluidized solids suspended in a vaporous medium is provided adjacent the lower end of the vessel and a first outlet 'for vaporous reactants is provided in the upper end of the vessel. A second outlet for fluidized solids is' provided in the lower end of thevessel. An annular wall memher is arranged in the vessel spaced away from the inner internal insulation on the inner wall and a plurality of baflie sections are removably arranged within the space between the annular wall member and the internal insulation. The baffie sections each comprise a plurality of rectangularly arranged elongated supporting members and vertically spaced apart triangularly shaped baflle members attached to the supporting members within the rectangular arrangement. Plate means are attached to the battle members and to the supporting members and are arranged to close the sides of the battle members. S'tiflening means, such as plates, are attached to the supporting members on the sides of the rectangular arrangeinent other than the sides of the'baflle members.

' The present invention also includes a baflle'section for use inan' annular stripper of a fluidized solids reaction vessel, the baffle section comprising a plurality of rectangular-1y arranged elongated supporting members, -vertically spaced apart triangularly shaped baflle members attached to the supporting members within the rectangular arrangement, and plate means attached to the 'bafli'e members and to the supporting members arranged the reactor vessel.

The triangularly shaped baflle members are provided with serrations on their lower ends and are arranged "within the angle irons with their apices pointing upwardly. By virtueof this arrangement and by providing a plurality of the baffle members interconnected within the annular space and connected "to the annular wall,

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a cascade effect is obtained with the downwardly flowing fluidized solids insuring effective stripping of any volatilizable matter which remains on the solids after the conversion operation.

Attached to each of the battle members on each side thereof are bent plate means which serve to close the sides of the baffle members and provide for the eflicient stripping operation obtained in the present invention.

The present invention will be more completely described by reference to the drawing in which:

Fig. l is a partial sectional view showing the reactor of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the lines 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a View taken along the lines 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a bafile section in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing in which identical numerals will be used to identify identical parts, and particularly to Fig. l, numeral 11 designates a reactor vessel having an inlet 12 which terminates within the reactor vessel 11' intermediate its ends in a funnel shaped member 13'provided with a grid plate 14. Reactor vessel 11 is provided with a first outlet 15 on its upper end and a second outlet 16 on its lower end.

The inner wall 17 of reactor vessel 11 is lined with internal insulation 18 and arranged in the vessel on an annular supporting member 19 is an annular wall member 20 which forms an annular space 21.

A separating means 22' is arranged in the upper end of the reactor vessel 11 and istillustrated. by a single cyclone separator, but which may be a plurality of cyclone separators or equivalent separating means. Cyclone separator 22 is provided with a dip leg 23 which extends to within a dense phase of fluidized solids 24 which is formed above the grid 14 and within the inner space 25 formed by the annular wall 20.

Arranged within the annular space 21 is a plurality of baflle sections 26 which will be described more fully hereinafter. Arranged below the baflle sections 26 in the annular space 21 is a plurality of nozzles 27 connected through the wall 18 of reactor vessel 11 to a conduit 28 through which a stripping medium such as steam is introduced into the annular space 21.

The lower end of the reactor vessel 11 may be provided with a conical wall member 29 having an opening 30 to isolate the dead space below the conical shaped member 13 from the catalyst flowing downwardly from space 21 into the outlet line 16. However, the conical wall member '29 provided with outlet 30 may be omitted as desired.

It is to be noted that the bathe sections 26 are formed from elongated supporting members such as angle irons 31 and 32, angle irons 32 being of a greater length than angle irons 31. As shown in Fig. 2, the angle irons 32 are removably attached to the wall 20 by means of threaded studs 33 and nuts 34, which allows the angle irons 32 and 31 to be removably attached to the inner cascade effect when several of the angle irons and the baffle members are arranged together and interconnected as shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4.

It is to be noted in the several figures of the drawing that the battle sections 26 are arranged in the annular space 21 below a plurality of ports 37 which provides for overflow of catalyst from the dense phase 24 into the annular space 21. i V

As shown more clearly in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the sides of the triangular shaped baffle members 36 are closed by plate members 38 which are bent to close the triangular shaped baflle members 36.

It is to be further noted that the lower ends of the triangular shaped baffie members 36 are serrated with serrations 39 for passage of the fluidized solid particles in a cascade effect through the bafile sections 26.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 5, the baffle sections 26 are provided with stiffening plates 40 which are arranged on the sides of the rectangular arrangements other than the sides on which the bent plates are arranged which closes the sides of the triangular baffle members 26. The stiffening plates 40 may be placed in staggered relationship one to the other to provide the necessary stiffness or strength to the baflie sections 26. It is to be noted that the triangular bathe members 36 are vertically spaced apart one from the other and that several sections 26 may be arranged to provide a staggered effect, as shown in Fig. 3, for the baflie members 36. Catalysts falling downwardly through the ports 37 are thus caused to travel cascade-like downwardly through the annular space 21 countercurrent to the stripping medium, such as steam, introduced through the nozzles 27.

The present invention is quite advantageous and useful inasmuch as it permits the arrangement of baflle members removably within annular strippers of fluidized solids reaction vessels, such as reaction vessels employing the fluidized solids technique in the catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons, such as in catalytic cracking of hydrocarbonsemploying a fluidized silica-alumina catalyst. An overall improvement in stripping efliciency is obtained by removing volatilizable carbonaceous material from the catalyst which overflows into the space 21 through the ports 37.

In an actual practice, a plurality of the battle sections, which may be forty in number, are constructed so that they are installed one at a time and then connected together after placement in the annular stripping space 21. No attachment is made to the internal insulation on the outer shell of the reaction vessel. Each of the forty bafile sections may be removed independently from the other to permit insulation repair. Each bafl le section may comprise three separate shed baffle members supported one above the other as has been described and maintained in place with angle iron supporting members. Adjacent baffle sections have their baflie members spaced such that a cascade flow of catalyst is obtained.

PI'lOI' to the present invention it had been the practice to employ vertical metal fins in the annular space of stripping sections of catalytic cracking vessels. The vertical fins were welded on one edge and that was on the inner section and resulted in approximately 25 to percent of the fins being broken otf during each operatlon of an extended period of time. This necessitated ma or mechanical repairs to the stripper during each shutdown for general overhaul of the catalytic cracking unit. It was observed that the broken fins usually blocked off about 25 to 30 percent of the annular cross-sectional area of the stripping space and adversely affected the stripper efiiclency. If the fins were removed, the stripping efficiency would be impaired unless suitable baffling arrangement were installed. Heretofore it was not possible to install suitable battling arrangement without Weldmg them to the outer vessel shell, which was complicated because of the requirement of internally insulating the outer shell of the reaction vessel. In accordance with the present invention, it is now possible to eliminate the use of the vertical fins and to provide baflfles which do not require attachment to the inner wall of the reaction vessel. The present invention provides baffle sections which are attached removably only to the inner annular wall of the stripping section and allows ready removal of the stripping sections without disturbing the insulatlon.

The present invention is quite advantageous and useful and gives exceedingly good contact between the flUldlZCd solids such as stripped in catalytic cracking operations and the stripping medium, which may be steam, but which may be other types of gases.

Referring again to Fig. 1, a mixture of vaporized hydrocarbons in which is suspended a fluidized catalyst, such as silica-alumina having particle sizes in the range from about 10 to about 200 microns, is introduced from a source not shown through inlet line 12 and flows upwardly through conical member 13 and through the openings of the grid 14 to form the dense bed 24. In the dense bed 24 a cracking reaction or other conversion operation may be conducted with the reaction products and some of the catalyst then passing into a disperse phase, such as 24a, above the dense bed 24. Residual catalyst is separated from the reactants in disperse phase 24a by passage through the cyclone separator 22 with the reactants discharging through outlet 15 for recovery and further treating. The catalyst overflows from dense phase 24 through ports 37 into annular stripping space 21 and flows downwardly through the battle sections 26 countercurrent to the flow of stripping steam introduced through nozzle 27 and line 28. By virtue of the good contact obtained in the bafiie sections 26, carbonaceous and volatilizable material are effectively removed from the spent catalyst and mingle in the disperse phase 24a with the reactants for recovery thereof. A reduction in strippable carbon, which is attributed to the present invention, of about 50 percent has been obtained over the prior installation. The stripped catalyst flows downwardly through the space 21 to outlet 16 for regeneration of the spent catalyst.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what I wish to claim as new and useful and secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A reactor suitable for use in catalytic conversion operations in which fluidized solids are employed which comprises an elongated vertical vessel having internal insulation on its inner wall, an inlet for fluidized solids suspended in a vaporous medium adjacent the lower end of the vessel, a first outlet for vaporous reactants in the upper end of the vessel, a second outlet for fluidized solids in the lower end of the vessel, an annular wall member in said vessel spaced away from the inner internal insulation, and a plurality of independent bafile sections removably arranged within the space between the annular wall member and the internal insulation, and removably attached to the annular wall member, said baflle sections each comprising a plurality of rectangularly arranged elongated supporting members, vertically spaced apart tn'angularly shaped baffle members attached to said supporting members within the rectangular arrangement, plate means attached to said baffle members and to said supporting members and arranged to close the sides of said baffle members, and stiffening means attached to said supporting members on the sides of said rectangular arrangement other than the sides of the bafiie members.

2. A reactor suitable for use in catalytic conversion operations in which fluidized solids are employed which comprisesv an elongated vertical vessel having internal insulation on its inner wall, an inlet for fluidized solids suspended in a vaporous medium adjacent the lower end of the vessel, a first outlet for vaporous reactants in the upper end of the vessel, a second outlet for fluidized solids in the lower end of the vessel, an annular wall member in said. vessel spaced away from the inner internal insulation, and a plurality of independent baflie sections removably arranged within the space between the annular wall member and the internal insulation, and

aw re removably tta hed to the an ar "W811 memb r, sai baflie sections each comprising pluralityof rectang larly arranged elongated supporting members, vertically spaced apart triangularly shaped bafiie members having upwardly pointing apices and attached to said supporting members within the rectangular arrangement, bent plate eans attached to said baffie members and to saidsupporting members and arranged-t closeithe sides of said baffle members, and stiffening means attached :to said supporting members on the sides of said rectangular arrangement other than the sides of the baflle members.

3. A reactor suitable for useyin catalytic conversion operations in which fluidized solids are employed which comprises an elongated vertical vessel having internal insulation on its inner wall, an inlet for fluidized solids suspended in a vaporous medium adjacent the lower end of the vessel, 2. first outlet for vaporous reactants in the upper end of the vessel, a second outlet for fluidized solids in the lower end of the vessel an .annularwall member in said vessel spaced away from the inner internal insulation, and a plurality of independent bafile sections removably arranged within the space between the annular wall member and the internal insulation, and removably attached to the annular wall member, said baflie sections each comprising a plurality of rectangularly arranged elongated supporting members, vertically spaced apart triangularly shaped bafiie m'embers having upwardly pointing apices and provided with serrated lower edges, said baifle members being attached to said supporting members within the rectangular arrangement, bent plate means attached to said baflie members and to said supporting members and arranged to close the sides of said bafile members, and stiffening means attached to said supporting members on the sides of said rectangular arrangement other than the sides of the bafiie members.

4. A reactor suitable for use in catalytic conversion operations in which fluidized solids are employed which comprises an elongated vertical vessel having internal insulation on its inner wall, an inlet for fluidized solids suspended in a vaporous medium adjacent the lower end of the vessel, a first outlet for vaporous reactants in the upper end of the vessel, a second outlet for fluidized solids in the lower end of the vessel, an annular wall member in said vessel spaced away from the inner internal insulation, and a plurality of independent baflie sections removably arranged Within the space between the annular wall member and the internal insulation, and removably attached to the annular wall member, said baflie sections each comprising a plurality of rectangularly arranged elongated angle iron supporting members, vertically spaced apart triangularly shaped bafiie members having upwardly pointing apices and provided with serrated lower edges, said baffle members being attached to said supporting members within the rectangular arrangement, plate means attached to said bafile members and to said supporting members and arranged to close the sides of said bafiie members, and stiffening means attached to said supporting members on the sides of said rectangular arrangement other than the sides of the baffle members.

5. A reactor suitable for use in catalytic conversion operations in which fluidized solids are employed which comprises an elongated vertical vessel having internal insulation on its inner wall, an inlet for fluidized solids suspended in a vaporous medium adjacent the lower end of the vessel, a first outlet for vaporous reactants in the upper end of the vessel, 21 second outlet for fluidized solids in the lower end of the vessel, an annular wall member in said vessel spaced away from the inner internal insulation, and a plurality of independent baffle sections removably arranged within the space between the annular wall member and the internal insulation, said baffle sections being removably attached to the annular wall member, said baffle sections each comprising a plurality of rectangularly arranged elongated supporting members, ver- 6 tically spaeed part triangularly shared bafl ememhers attached to said supporting members within the rectangular arrangement, plate means attached to said baflle members and to said supportingmembers and arranged to close the sides of said baflle members, and stiffening means attached to 'saidlsupporting members on the sides of said rectangular arrangement other than thesides of the bafiie members. I

6. A reactor in accordancewith'elaim 5 in which; means are provided for injecting a stripping medium into the annular space below the baffle sections,

7. A reactor in accordance-with claim 5 in whic a grid is provided in said vessel forming the terminus of the inlet intermediate the ends of theye'ssel.

8. A reactor suitable for use in catalytic conversion operations in which fluidized solids are employed which comprises an elongated vertical vessel having internal insulation on its inner Wall, an inlet for fiuidiz'edksolids suspended in a vaporous medium adjacent the lower end of the vessel, a first outlet for vaporous reactantsin the upper end of the vessel, a second outlet for fluidized solids in the lower end of the vessel, an annular wall member in said vessel spaced awayfrom 'the inner inter-nal insulation, and a plurality of interconnectedindependent baflle sections arranged within the space between the annular Wall member and the internal insulation, said bafile sections being removably attached to the annular Wall member, said baflle sections each comprising a plurality of rectangularly arranged elongated angle iron supporting members, vertically spaced-apart triangularly shaped baflie members having upwardly pointingapices and pro- -vided with serrated lower edges-saidbztifle membersbeing attached to said suppo ting members within the-rectangular arrangement, bent plate means attached to said bafile members and to said supporting members and arranged to close the sides of said bafiie members, and stiffening plate means attached to said supporting members on the sides of said rectangular arrangement other than the sides of the bafile members.

9. An independent baffle section for use in an annular stripper and for attachment removably to an inner Wall spaced from an outer wall of a fluidized solids reaction vessel which comprises a plurality of rectangularly arranged elongated supporting members, vertically spacedapart triangularly shaped baffle members attached to said supporting members within the rectangular arrangement, plate means attached to said baflie members and to said supporting members and arranged to close the sides of said baflie members, and stiffening means attached to said supporting members on the sides of said rectangular arrangement other than the sides of the baflie members.

10. An independent bafile section for use in an annular stripper and for attachment removably to an inner wall spaced from an outer wall of a fluidized solids reaction vessel which comprises a plurality of rectangularly arranged elongated supporting members, vertically spacedapart triangularly shaped baflie members attached to said supporting members Within the rectangular arrangement, bent plate means attached to said batfle members and to said supporting members and arranged to close the sides of said baflie members, and stiffening means attached to said supporting members on the sides of said rectangular arrangement other than the sides of the bafile members.

11. An independent baflie section for use in an annular stripper and for attachment removably to an inner wall spaced from an outer wall of a fluidized solids reaction vessel which comprises a plurality of rectangularly arranged elongated supporting members, vertically spacedapart triangularly shaped bafile members attached to said supporting members within the rectangular arrangement, said baflle members having serrated lower edges, plate means attached to said baifle members and to said supporting members and arranged to close the sides of said baffle members, and stiffening means attached to said supporting members'on the sides of said rectangular a'r rangement other than the sides of the baflle members.

12. An independent bafile section for use in an annular stripper and for attachment removably to an inner wall spaced from an outer wall of a fluidized solids reaction vessel which comprises a plurality of rectangularly arranged elongated angle iron supporting members, vertically spaced-apart triangularly shaped batfie members attached to said supporting members within the rectangular arrangement, plate means attached to said baffle members and to said supporting members and arranged to close the sides of said bafile members, and stiffening means attached to said supporting members on the sides of said rectangular arrangement other than the sides of the bafile members.

13. An independent balfle section for use in an annular stripper and for attachment removably to an inner wall spaced from an outer wall of a fluidized solids reaction vessel which comprises a plurality of rectangularly arranged elongated supporting members, vertically spaced apart triangnlarly shaped baffle members attached to said supporting members within the rectangular arrangement, said bame members having serrated lower edges, bent plate means attached to said bafile members and to said supporting members and arranged to close the sides of said baffie members, and stifiening means attached to said supporting members on the sides of said rectangular arrangement other than the sides of the bafiie members.

14. An independent baffie section for use in an annular stripper and for attachment removably to an inner wall spaced from an outer wall of a fluidized solids reaction vessel which comprises a plurality of rectangularly arranged elongated angle iron supporting members, ver- -'tically spaced-apart triangularly shaped baffle r nembe'r's attached to said supporting members within the'rectangular arrangement, said bafile members having serrated lower edges, bent plate means attached to said bafile members and to said supporting members and arranged to close the sides of said bafile members, and stiffening plate means attached to said supporting members on the sides of said rectangular arrangement other than the sides of the baffle members. a

15. Apparatus for use in an annular stripper and for attachment removably to an inner wall spaced from-an outer wall of a fluidized solids reaction vessel which comprises a plurality of interconnected independent baifie sections each of which bafiie sections comprises a plurality of rectangularly arranged elongated supporting mem- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,436,225 Ogorzaly Feb. 17, 1948 2,458,866 Martin Jan. 11, 1949 2,545,165 Ogorzaly Mar. 13, 1951 

1. A REACTOR SUITABLE FOR USE IN CATALYTIC CONVERSION OPERATIONS IN WHICH FLUIDIZED SOLIDS ARE EMPLOYED WHICH COMPRISES AN ELONGATED VERTICAL VESSEL HAVING INTERNAL INSULATION ON ITS INNER WALL, AN INLET FORM FLUILDIZED SOLIDS SUSPENDED IN A VAPOROUS MEDIUM ADJACENT THE LOWER END OF THE VESSEL, A FIRST OUTLET FOR VAPOROUS REACTANTS IN THE UPPER END OF THE VESSEL, A SECOND OUTLET FOR FLUIDIZED SOLIDS IN THE LOWER END OF THE VESSEL, AN ANNULAR WALL MEMBER IN SAID VESSEL SPACED AWAY FROM THE INNER INTERNAL INSULATION, AND A PLURALITY OF INDEPENDENT BAFFLE SECTIONS REMOVABLY ARRANGED WITHIN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE ANNULAR WALL MEMBER AND THE INTERNAL INSULATION, AND REMOVABLY ATTACHED TO THE ANNULAR WALL MEMBER, SAID BAFFLE SECTIONS EACH COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF RECTANGULARLY ARRANGED ELONGATED SUPPORTING MEMBERS, VERTICALLY SPACED APART TRIANGULARLY SHAPED BAFFLE MEMBERS ATTACHED TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS WITHIN THE RECTANGULAR ARRANGEMENT, PLATE MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID BAFFLE MEMBERS AND TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS, AND ARRANGED TO CLOSE THE SIDESZ OF SAID BAFFLE MEMBERS, AND STIFFENING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS ON THE SIDES OF SAID RECTANGULAR ARRANGEMENT OTHER THAN THE SIDES OF THE BAFFLE MEMBERS. 